The Modern High Performer | corporate leaders, modern professional, work-life balance, career fulfillment, work culture, executive coaching, career clarity, career development

Hosted by Molly Asplin

Business Entrepreneurship Education

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Episodes

245

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Doing meaningful work shouldn't cost you everything else. Welcome to The Modern High Performer — the podcast for ambitious professionals who want to do meaningful work and have energy left for the people and priorities that matter most. I'm Molly Asplin, founder and CEO of The Modern High Performance Group. With my experience in corporate finance and years coaching high-achieving men and women, I've seen how easy it is to get stuck in autopilot — chasing success but feeling misaligned, burnt out, or depleted for the people who matter most. I see a workplace culture that's become noisy, reactive, and draining — full of people who aren't burnt out enough to stop, but not energized enough to thrive. It's the quiet crisis of modern work. And it's time for a better way. We deserve environments where focus is protected, people are valued, and leaders care about the humans behind the output. That's the shift I'm here to help create. This show is about changing that. Every week, we'll talk about what it really means to thrive in today's work environment. I'll share practical strategies, honest stories, and fresh leadership insights to help you grow your career without sacrificing your life outside of it. Whether you're navigating a big pivot, leading a team, or simply trying to manage the mental load of work and home, you'll find encouragement, clarity, and new ways to think about high performance in a sustainable way. Let's lead differently. Let's work better. Let's live more fully. Become a part of the movement: https://www.mollyasplin.com/subscribe Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/molly.asplin/ Check out our website: https://www.mollyasplin.com Email: molly@mollyasplin.com 🎧 New episodes every Tuesday.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 9, 202651 min

243. This Isn't Working: Redefining Ambition, Joy, & Sustainable Leadership | Interview with Meghan French Dunbar

What happens when you achieve the success you thought you wanted… and still don't feel fulfilled? In this episode, I'm joined by Meghan French Dunbar, founder of Conscious Company Magazine and author of This Isn't Working, for a conversation about ambition, burnout, identity, and what it means to build a successful life without sacrificing yourself in the process. After founding and scaling a nationally recognized media company, interviewing more than 1,000 business leaders, and leading as CEO for years, Meghan found herself burned out, depleted, and questioning everything. What followed was a period of deep reflection that ultimately reshaped how she thinks about leadership, success, and personal fulfillment. In this conversation, we talk about: Why external success doesn't always create internal fulfillment The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation How ambition can become tangled with identity and self-worth The hidden costs of chronic self-sacrifice and overachievement What sustainable leadership actually looks like in practice The workplace models and leadership philosophies challenging traditional definitions of success How to build a career, company, and life that support both performance and well-being Meghan also shares insights from her book, This Isn't Working, and why more leaders are questioning old definitions of achievement in search of something more sustainable. If you've ever reached a goal and wondered, "Why doesn't this feel the way I thought it would?" this conversation is for you. Here are the some great resources I wanted to share with you: Book a Free Clarity Call https://www.mollyasplin.com/subscribe molly@mollyasplin.com Follow Me on Instagram Connect with Meghan French Dunbar: Meghan's Podcast This Isn't Working Book Follow on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn Are you looking to improve performance and team effectiveness across your team? Book A Team Effectiveness Consult Here If this message resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a rating and review—it helps the show reach more high achievers who are ready to do life and work differently. And if you're listening today, take a screenshot of this episode & tag me on Instagram @molly.asplin so I can personally thank you and cheer you on!

May 26, 202643 min

242. W2 vs. Entrepreneurship: The Honest Pros & Cons No One Talks About

Why do corporate employees romanticize entrepreneurship… while entrepreneurs secretly crave the stability of a paycheck? In this episode, I'm unpacking a conversation I think more people need to have honestly—because the answer isn't as simple as "quit your job" or "play it safe." Having worked in corporate, built a business in direct sales, and now running my own coaching and consulting company, I've experienced both worlds firsthand. And what I've learned is this: Every path solves problems. And every path creates them too. This episode is less about labels and more about understanding what you actually need in this season of life. We talk about: The real tradeoffs between corporate careers and entrepreneurship—including stability, autonomy, pressure, growth, flexibility, and lifestyle sustainability Why social media oversimplifies the "quit your job" narrative The realities of dual-income households, financial runway, and responsible career planning The pressure and blurred boundaries that often come with entrepreneurship Why many W2 roles offer more support, predictability, and structure than people realize How to evaluate what truly matters to you in this season of life Why hybrid career paths and evolving seasons may be a better fit than extremes The importance of building a life and career that leave you energized, aligned, and fully alive Here are the some great resources I wanted to share with you: Book a Free Clarity Call https://www.mollyasplin.com/subscribe molly@mollyasplin.com Follow Me on Instagram Growth Day App - 7 Day Free Trial Are you looking to improve performance and team effectiveness across your team? Book A Team Effectiveness Consult Here If this message resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a rating and review—it helps the show reach more high achievers who are ready to do life and work differently. And if you're listening today, take a screenshot of this episode & tag me on Instagram @molly.asplin so I can personally thank you and cheer you on!

May 12, 20261 hr 1 min

241. Treating Health Like Strategy | What High Performers Need to Know About the Current Wellness Trends, Increasing Energy, & Longevity with John Goldman

What if we treated our health the same way high performers approach leadership and business strategy? In this episode, I'm joined by John Goldman, founder and CEO of Rebel Health Alliance, for a conversation about building a more intentional, data-informed approach to health, performance, and longevity. After facing his own health wake-up call, including pre-diabetes, inflammation, sleep issues, and burnout, John completely changed how he approached wellness. What followed became the foundation for Rebel Health Alliance: a concierge-style model that combines diagnostics, functional medicine, fitness, nutrition, and coaching into one coordinated strategy. We talk about: Why most people are overwhelmed by health information and trends The difference between collecting health data and actually using it well John's "Project Unreasonable" goal to qualify for the Boston Marathon at 50 Why zone 1–2 cardio matters for energy, metabolism, and long-term health His perspective on wearables, peptides, GLP-1s, hormone therapy, sauna, cold plunges, and recovery trends Why foundational habits still matter most: strength training, sleep, nutrition, sunlight, stress management, and community This conversation isn't about chasing perfection or biohacking your life. It's about thinking about your health more proactively and recognizing that sustainable performance at work and in life starts with the fundamentals. Here are the some great resources I wanted to share with you: Book a Free Clarity Call https://www.mollyasplin.com/subscribe molly@mollyasplin.com Follow Me on Instagram Connect with John: Follow on Instagram https://rebelhealthalliance.io/ Are you looking to improve performance and team effectiveness across your team? Book A Team Effectiveness Consult Here If this message resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a rating and review—it helps the show reach more high achievers who are ready to do life and work differently. And if you're listening today, take a screenshot of this episode & tag me on Instagram @molly.asplin so I can personally thank you and cheer you on!

April 29, 202651 min

240. How Women Get Promoted: Leadership Perception, Invisible Work & Financial Advocacy with Nicole Johnston

If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right, but still getting overlooked this episode will connect a lot of dots. I'm joined by Nicole Johnston, a former Fortune 50 leader turned coach, who spent 30 years inside large organizations before helping women advance with more clarity and confidence. What she saw over and over again? Highly capable women missing opportunities not because of performance, but because of how their leadership is perceived. In this conversation, we break down what actually drives promotions and it's not just execution. We talk about: Why promotions are based on perceived leadership potential, not just results and how to communicate like a leader (clear, concise, and outcome-focused) The importance of visibility and how "invisible work" at work and home can quietly hold you back What to do when you hit a mid-career plateau and how to use feedback to assess whether it's strategy or environment How to rethink the mental load and start redistributing responsibilities more intentionally Why financial confidence matters and how to advocate for your pay, benefits, and flexibility Nicole also shares insights from her book, opening up conversations around topics many women haven't been given language for from self-care to navigating leadership and life. Here are the some great resources I wanted to share with you: Book a Free Clarity Call https://www.mollyasplin.com/subscribe molly@mollyasplin.com Follow Me on Instagram Connect with Nicole: Follow Nicole in Instagram Connect on LinkedIn https://www.innate-power.com/ Are you looking to improve performance and team effectiveness across your team? Book A Team Effectiveness Consult Here If this message resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a rating and review—it helps the show reach more high achievers who are ready to do life and work differently. And if you're listening today, take a screenshot of this episode & tag me on Instagram @molly.asplin so I can personally thank you and cheer you on!

April 14, 202649 min

239. Building a High-Performing Team & Why Strong Leaders Stop Doing Everything | Interview with Jim Brown

For a long time, I believed that being a strong leader meant being the one who could do it all. Execute quickly. Solve problems. Step in when needed. In this conversation, I sit down with Jim Brown, a consultant who has spent over 30 years working with boards and senior leadership teams to build healthier, higher-performing organizations. Jim shares his own leadership evolution from being the "go-to" leader who drove results, to realizing that his competence was actually limiting his team. We talk about what it really looks like to shift from being the doer to the leader who develops others and why that shift is essential if you want a team that performs without depending on you for everything. In this episode, we cover: Why high-performing leaders often become the bottleneck (without realizing it) The real reason leaders struggle to delegate What it means to move from "hero leader" to "supportive leader" Why avoiding hard conversations quietly erodes team culture How accountability and care work together not against each other Why asking better questions builds stronger, more capable teams The role of psychological safety in driving performance Jim also shares insights from his book, The Imperfect CEO, and why letting go of perfection and control is one of the most powerful things a leader can do. If you're leading a team and feeling the weight of being the one everyone depends on, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership and give you a clearer path forward. Here are the some great resources I wanted to share with you: Book a Free Clarity Call https://www.mollyasplin.com/subscribe molly@mollyasplin.com Follow Me on Instagram Connect with Jim on LinkedIn https://imperfectceobook.com/ Are you looking to improve performance and team effectiveness across your team? Book A Team Effectiveness Consult Here If this message resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a rating and review—it helps the show reach more high achievers who are ready to do life and work differently. And if you're listening today, take a screenshot of this episode & tag me on Instagram @molly.asplin so I can personally thank you and cheer you on!

March 31, 202622 min

238. What I'm Seeing Right Now in High-Achieving Leaders… Are You Re-Evaluating Things Too?

If this episode really hits your high-achieving heart, I would really love to chat with you. Book a free clarity call HERE. In this episode of The Modern High Performer Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain on the conversations I've been having every week with high-achieving leaders whether you are a business owner, executive, founder, and senior manager and sharing the themes that keep coming up again and again. What's interesting is that the questions leaders are asking right now are different than they were even a year ago. The conversation has shifted from "How do I grow faster?" to "How do I build success that actually fits into my life?" More and more leaders are asking: How do I stay ambitious and still be present for the people who matter most? How do I build a business or team that doesn't depend on me for everything? How do I manage my energy so I don't burn out halfway through my career? Do I really need to be highly visible online to grow, or is there another way? How do I stay valuable and relevant as my company changes, restructures, or adopts AI? Across the board, leaders are thinking more about sustainability, energy, team development, and aligned growth, not just more revenue, bigger titles, or faster promotions. If you're in a season where you're redefining success, rethinking growth, or trying to build a career and life that actually work together, this episode will feel very familiar. Here are the some great resources I wanted to share with you: Book a Free Clarity Call https://www.mollyasplin.com/subscribe molly@mollyasplin.com Follow Me on Instagram Growth Day App - 7 Day Free Trial Are you looking to improve performance and team effectiveness across your team? Book A Team Effectiveness Consult Here If this message resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a rating and review—it helps the show reach more high achievers who are ready to do life and work differently. And if you're listening today, take a screenshot of this episode & tag me on Instagram @molly.asplin so I can personally thank you and cheer you on!

March 17, 202646 min

237. Emotional Intelligence in Leadership | Handling Difficult Conversations, Navigating Change & Taking Ownership of What You Can Control

Leadership isn't just about strategy—it's about people. In this episode, I'm joined by Amy Jacobson, emotional intelligence and human behavior specialist and author of The Emotional Intelligence Advantage. We talk about why emotional intelligence is often dismissed as a "soft skill," when in reality it's one of the most practical advantages leaders have, especially when navigating change and difficult conversations. Amy also introduces the idea of "change intelligence," the emotional readiness teams need before change can actually succeed. In this conversation, we cover: Why emotional intelligence is a critical leadership skill How the rise of AI is increasing the importance of human EQ The difference between blame-based teams and ownership-driven cultures Why change often triggers a sense of loss for people What happens in the brain during difficult conversations Amy's practical "Ask, Ask, Tell" framework for leading hard conversations with clarity If you lead people, manage change, or regularly navigate high-stakes conversations at work, this episode offers practical insight you can apply immediately. Here are the some great resources I wanted to share with you: Apply for 1:1 Coaching https://www.mollyasplin.com/subscribe molly@mollyasplin.com Follow Me on Instagram Growth Day App - 7 Day Free Trial Connect with Amy Jacobson: Emotional Intelligence Books https://amyjacobson.com.au/ Connect on LinkedIn Are you looking to improve performance and team effectiveness across your team? Book A Team Effectiveness Consult Here If this message resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a rating and review—it helps the show reach more high achievers who are ready to do life and work differently. And if you're listening today, take a screenshot of this episode & tag me on Instagram @molly.asplin so I can personally thank you and cheer you on!

March 3, 202620 min

236. The Quiet Cost of Ambition | When Success Starts Stealing from What Matters &The Slow Drift No One Warns High Performers About

What if your career stayed exactly the same for the next 10 years, (same title, same compensation, same trajectory) but your relationships quietly eroded in the background? Would you notice? Or would you call it a "busy season"? In this episode of the Modern High Performer podcast, I'm unpacking a question that has challenged me deeply which is inspired by Clayton Christensen's book How Will You Measure Your Life? and applying business strategy thinking to something far more personal: how we measure success in our lives. As high performers, we are wired to optimize. We track what moves. We invest where we see immediate returns and work gives us clear metrics, fast feedback, and visible progress. Relationships don't. In this episode, I walk through three powerful ideas: Why money, status, and achievement can quietly masquerade as fulfillment How we unintentionally allocate our best time and energy to what pays off now — while underinvesting in what matters long-term The subtle way lifestyle expansion can make income feel "required," leading to giving our families less of us I also share a personal regret about friendships I didn't protect the way I should have — and the hard truth about how relationship drift doesn't happen loudly. It happens slowly. You'll hear journaling prompts to help you reflect on: What are you currently measuring your life by? Where is your time going and why? If nothing changed professionally, would you be proud of how you showed up personally? This episode isn't about abandoning ambition. It's about ensuring your ambition doesn't cost you the life you're building it for. If you're a senior leader navigating responsibility, growth, and the tension between success and presence, this conversation is for you. Here are the some great resources I wanted to share with you: Apply for 1:1 Coaching https://www.mollyasplin.com/subscribe molly@mollyasplin.com Follow Me on Instagram Growth Day App - 7 Day Free Trial Are you looking to improve performance and team effectiveness across your team? Book A Team Effectiveness Consult Here If this message resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a rating and review—it helps the show reach more high achievers who are ready to do life and work differently. And if you're listening today, take a screenshot of this episode & tag me on Instagram @molly.asplin so I can personally thank you and cheer you on!

February 17, 202656 min

235. When Success Looks Good, But Feels Off | Navigating the Quiet Pull Toward More with Whitney Faires

This conversation is for the woman who's accomplished a lot on paper, but still feels that quiet nudge that something's missing. In this episode of Modern High Performer, I'm joined by Whitney Faires, a leadership advisor and mom of three who made a bold pivot from her high-powered corporate career into work that's far more aligned with who she truly is. We unpack what it means to feel unsettled in your success, and how to respond to the silent dream that keeps tapping you on the shoulder. Whitney shares what it really looked like to shift her identity as a leader, honor her ambition without burning out, and redefine what she wants her life and career to feel like especially in the season of motherhood. We talk about: Why the "dream job" might stop feeling like a dream How to build magnetic leadership rooted in authenticity and self-awareness What to do when you're stuck between stability and a deeper calling How Whitney manages her time, energy, and household with intention The messy, but necessary, parts of letting go of who you were to become who you're meant to be This is a must-listen if you're craving more meaning in your work, wondering what comes next, or navigating the in-between. Here are the some great resources I wanted to share with you: Apply for 1:1 Coaching https://www.mollyasplin.com/subscribe molly@mollyasplin.com Follow Me on Instagram Growth Day App - 7 Day Free Trial Are you looking to improve performance and team effectiveness across your team? Book A Team Effectiveness Consult Here Connect with Whitney Faires: Follow on Instagram www.whitneyfaires.com Connect on LinkedIn If this message resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a rating and review—it helps the show reach more high achievers who are ready to do life and work differently. And if you're listening today, take a screenshot of this episode & tag me on Instagram @molly.asplin so I can personally thank you and cheer you on!

February 3, 202648 min

234. Success That Matches Your Season: What High Performers Miss About Pacing & True Balance with Cherylanne Skolnicki

What does it really mean to be "successful" as a high performer… and still feel well? In this episode, I'm joined by Cherylanne Skolnicki — founder and CEO of Brilliant Balance, speaker, and former Procter & Gamble executive — for a rich, honest conversation about ambition, energy, and the seasons of life we all move through. We talk about how the pursuit of more can leave high performers feeling maxed out, even when things look good on paper and how redefining success through the lens of energy, relationships, and life alignment is key to building something sustainable. Cherylanne shares the pivotal moments that took her from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, how she teaches women to curate their calendars (instead of letting them run the show), and how perfectionism and outdated expectations are silently draining us. You'll hear us explore: What it looks like to honor your current life season Why many women feel disconnected, overextended, or stuck How to manage your energy with clarity and intuition The role of ambition, rest, and recovery in high performance Permission to rewrite what success looks like for you in this season If you've been feeling out of sync or wondering why success doesn't feel the way you hoped, this episode will help you reconnect to what matters most and move forward with more purpose, peace, and clarity. Here are the some great resources I wanted to share with you: https://www.mollyasplin.com/subscribe molly@mollyasplin.com Follow Me on Instagram Growth Day App - 7 Day Free Trial Connect with Cherylanne Follow on Instagram Brilliant Balance Podcast The Momentum Playbook Are you looking to improve performance and team effectiveness across your team? Book A Team Effectiveness Consult Here If this message resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a rating and review—it helps the show reach more high achievers who are ready to do life and work differently. And if you're listening today, take a screenshot of this episode & tag me on Instagram @molly.asplin so I can personally thank you and cheer you on!